The Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus c5.s5.3

c5.s5.3

The movement of the needle (iron in general, as Śankara Miśra notes) towards the magnet is another example of unexplained motion in matter. Cleaning and right-placing of the magnet (संमार्ज्जनम्, ऋजुस्थापनम्) are necessary (सूचीनां लौहशलाकानां, अयस्कान्ताभिमुखगमनम्, सूचीत्युपलक्षणम् अयस्कान्ताकृष्टलोहमात्रमभिप्रेतम्—Śaṅkara Miśra).